A leading Pakistani newspaper has taken up India’s cause, saying that Pakistan would have to cooperate “with sincerity” with its neighbour India with regard to terrorist activities, particularly with the recent attack on an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab.

The News International newspaper said on Thursday that Pakistan must work closely with India and with “sincerity” to bring to book the masterminds of the terrorist attack in Pathankot if the attackers were indeed Pakistanis.

“It is clear the two countries will need to cooperate on the issue of terrorism,” the paper wrote in an editorial. “The word from India is that they are seeking Pakistan’s cooperation in identifying the terrorists and tracing their network. On our side, we need to work towards that with sincerity.”

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a call this afternoon from Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif regarding the terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase,” said statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday.

“Prime Minister Modi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organizations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack. Specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan,” it said.